Beat the crowds with a fall vacation

Perhaps you’re a bargain hunter who loves to golf. Or ride your bike. Or you’re a food and wine lover in search of a deal on a culinary adventure. Maybe a history buff, seeking to save money and explore the world’s great monuments.

Then you should think about travelling in the fall.

That’s because the autumn months — September through to the end of October — typically mean cheaper hotel rates, less traffic and shorter lineups at popular tourist venues.

Just ask the professionals.

“The kids are back in school, and many people are back in their daily grind,” says Jennifer Callegaro, director of brand marketing for Expedia Canada.

“It can be an ideal time for travellers to find deals.”

Calgary travel agent Augusto Ambrosino has been planning trips for people for more than 30 years. The owner of Express Travel, Ambrosino says typically autumn is a wonderful time for travelling because great deals abound on everything from rental cars to hotel rooms and airline tickets.

“Everything falls in the fall — not just the leaves on the trees — prices, too,” says Ambrosino with a laugh.

“That’s because many people are back from summer holidays and they’re looking at their money. They want to be saving for the Christmas holidays.”

Yet, as Callegaro points out, the destinations are still there. So why not visit them?

“A popular destination in the summer months is still a popular destination,” she says. “You just don’t have that mass of people going there like you do in the summer.”

Indeed, go to Rome’s Trevi Fountain in July or August and you’ll likely line up under the hot, hot sun. Then you’ll share the legendary marble water fountain with thousands of snap-happy tourists, all jostling for the perfect Pinterest-worthy photograph.

Those crowds won’t exactly go away — after all, the site has been popular since it was completed in 1762. But come fall, the Mediterranean heat has dissipated a bit, and the crowds have thinned. You can easily find a table at a nearby romantic trattoria and really relax, without having to elbow your way through hordes of people.

Ambrosino specializes in European destinations — especially Italy — and that’s where September, October and even early November are fantastic.

“It depends on the destination, but price-wise, Europe is a very good place to go because the weather is still OK,” he says.

“You have very affordable prices on flights and you don’t have as much traffic when you get there. And the tourist sites, they aren’t as crowded.”

The other cool thing about smaller crowds? You can go to more places, if you want. There’s “the possibility to do more when you’re there,” says Callegaro, because you’re not spending all your time in lineups to see the famous places.

If you love cycling on quiet country roads, when the weather is warm but not sweltering, fall can be a magical time in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.

Rent a bike when you arrive, or bring your own; you can tootle between wineries at your own pace.

“The roads are perfect for the leisure cyclist or (someone) training for a big event,” notes Ingrid Jarrett, general manager and vice-president of business development at the Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, B.C.

Beyond just cycling, there are myriad wonderful reasons to visit the Okanagan in the fall, she says.

“Harvest. The people. The unique experience of foraging for fruit and vegetables. Connecting with wineries,” says Jarrett.

“And golf courses are in perfect shape and not busy.”

You’ll find deals on hotel rooms and the best restaurants aren’t as crowded. And just like in the summer, the farmers’ markets still feature wonderful fresh produce and the wineries still offer excellent wines.

Best of all, as destinations get quieter, the locals have more time to chat, too.

“If a destination is less touristy, that allows for more mingling with the locals,” notes Callegaro.

You may learn their stories, and learn more about the local history and the region you’re exploring. And perhaps you’ll make a new friend or two, as well.

“That gives a really different take on a destination than you’ll get in the summer,” Callegaro says.

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